Steering knuckle



P 1953 J. H. BOOTH ETAL 2,652,264

STEERING KNUCKLE Filed April 3, 1951 46 fHVEII Z. 0175 efameabfflaatfz zildozz git am b M /"""7 252 1 5 Patented Sept. 15, 1953 2,652,2 4 STEERING KNUCKLE James H, Booth, Corunna, and Eldon C. Warner,

Detroit; Mich, assignors to Thompson P'ro'd nets, In c., Cleveland, Ohio, a. corporation of A-pplication April 3, 1951, Serial No. 219,049.

5 Claims.

The pre nt. nvent a i e a es o. m r ed t n nuckle constr ctio to us n. a independent steerable wheel suspension in a vehicle.

More partic larly, h invent on atesto a plified two-piece steering knuckle assembly including atspinolle suphorturicge having means for connection to, the upper wheel suspension control arm and a separablewheel support spindle structureincluding integral spindle shank and means for connecting said structure to the l wer con r l arm of the W e susp n In the automotive wheel suspension art, simplicity of construction together with durability is very important. Furthermore, the arrangement must permit of, easy assembly and disassembly of associated parts in order to expedite the original assembly perations and to allow for inexpensive maintenance,

According to the present invention an independent steerable wheel suspension, including upper and lower control arms pivotally mount on an automobile frame and ball joints provided at the outer ends of the control arms, has a steering knuckle fixedly attached to the studs of the ball joints for pivoting movement relative to the control arms. The: spindle support portion of the steering knuckle comprises a generally U shaped bar having an attachment boss integrally formed in the central portion thereof for fixedly connecting to the upper ball jointstud. Connection sections are provided at the free end portions of the less for receiving bolts or the like to fixedly attach the connection sections to an attachment pad integrally formed on a wheel support spindle structure. The spindle structure includes an integral outwardly extending spindle shank for receiving a vehicle wheel and an interal inwardly extending lqwer boss portion for fixedly securing the spindle structure to the stud of the lower ball joint.

The U-shaped support bridge is particularly adapted for forging from elongated steel bar stock or rod stock. The bar shank comprises generally two pairs of transversely oppositely extending reinforcement ribs to reduce the total m u of mat ria hee d Whi t ll i n the required t ensth h a shape wh i readily adapted to forging. The 'ueshaped c nstru ti of the support bridge allows for ready access to the opposing face of a brake backing plate in order to permit removal or insertion of bolts or screws which might be used for attaching or adjusting parts of the brake mechanism.

It is, therefore, an object or the present inventivn to pr v de improved stee in k u 2v a emb er use in an nd pen ent Wheel en ion Another object of the invention is to provide a simpliiie'd two-pie e steering knuckle construction including a spindle structure and a simplifled. support bridge.

A further object of the invention is to provide simplified means for attaching a U-shaped, support bridge tea separable spindle structure in the steering knuckle assembly of an independent wheel suspension.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved spindle support bridge which may be readily formed from elongated bar stock or rod stock.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a steering, knuckle assembly in an independent wheel, suspension including a U-shaped spindle support bridge with integral means at the free ends thereof for connecting to a spindle structure and integral means in the central portion for connecting to an upper control arm.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment, by way of preferred example only, taken in conjunction with" the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an independent steerable wheel suspension including a steering knuckle assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged exploded front elevational view of the steering knuckle assembly less the attachment bolts Figure 3 is an inside elevational View of the spindle support bridge shown in Figure .2; and

Figure 4; is an'inside end elevational view of the wheel support spindle construction shown in Figure 2.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1 is shown an independent steerable wheel suspension I 0 of an automobile or the like including a cross frame member II and a lower control arm or load carrying arm I? pivotally attached at its inner end portion 'to the frame member I I by 'means of an attachment bolt I4. A shock absorber 5 is fixedly mounted on the upper side of the end portion of the cross iframe member I I." An upper control arm I6 is pivotally and operatively attached at its inner end portion to the shock absorber I5 at I1. A coil support spring Ill is operatively disposed between the lower control arm I2 outwardly of the bolt lll'and the cross frame member II to erally parallel to upper ball joint 24, with perpendicularly faces 38 at right angles to resiliently transmit the weight of the automobile body (not shown) from the frame member to the load carrying arm 12 and thence to a wheel (not shown). A torsion rod i9 is connected at one end portion to the lower control arm 12 outwardly of the spring l8 by means of a link 26 and associated attachment means 2! and 22.

A ball joint 24, of the controlled friction shimmy dampening type, has its casing fixedly atportion of the upper control arm l6 and has a stud (not shown) tiltably and rotatably retained in the ball joint with an attachment portion extending downwardly therefrom. An anti-friction load carrying ball joint has its casing fixedly attached at the outer end portion of the lower control arm [2 and has a stud 26 tiltably and rotatably retained in the ball joint with an attachment portion extending upwardly therefrom. The upper and lower studs are in axial alignment.

According to the present invention, a steering knuckle assembly 2! includes a spindle support bridge 28 and a separable wheel support spindle structure 29, both preferably formed of forged steel or the like.

The support bridge 28 is of an inverted U- shaped construction having a central portion, or bight S0, and a pair of downwardly extending integral legs SI, 3!. An integral generally cylindrically shaped upper attachment boss 32 is formed in the central portion aperture or hole 36 with a tapered 34 extending therethrough genthe plane of the legs 3!. The tapered hole 34 is adapted to receive a mating tapered portion of the stud (not shown) of the the stud locked therein by means of a nut or the like (not shown) Connection or attachment sections 35, 35 are provided at the free end portions of the legs 3| and herein comprise a pair of longitudinally spaced attachment bosses 36 having bolt receiving apertures 31 therethrough extending substantially to the plane of the legs 3|. The

bosses 36 are provided with opposite fiat end apertures 3'5. The legs 3! and the central portion 36 are of ribbed construction having a pair of longitudinal co-planar oppositely formed rein- ;forcement ribs 39, 39 and a pair of longitudinal perpendicularly oppositely extending reinforcer ment ribs 46, as, so that the shanks have generally X-shaped cross sections. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 a shallow S-shaped bend 4! is provided in each of the legs 3| so that the attachment sections 35 are offset outwardly with respect to the central portion 36.

It will be noted that both the overall configuration and the cross-sectional shape of thesupport bridge 28 are particularly adapted for forming by forging operations performed on an elongated steel bar or rod. A minimum amount of material is required while a maximum strength is provided. The support bridge can be formed as a straight forging and bent while hot to the finished U-shape or can be finish forged as shown. A minimum amount of finish machining is required.

The wheel support spindle structure 29 includes an integral attachment pad 42 having four bolt receiving apertures 44 therethrough in the same pattern as the bolt receiving apertures 3'! formed in the support bridge 28. Integral annular bearing pads or embossments 45 and 46 are formed about the upper and lower pairs of bolt apertures 44, respectively, with the lower the axes of the bolt embossments 46 being of greater height to compensate for a difference in length between the upper and lower pairs of attachment bosses 36 formed on the support bridge 28. An integral spindle shank 41 extends perpendicularly outwardly from the attachment pad 42 and includes a reduced diameter threaded end portion 48, a tapered portion 49, a cylindrical shank portion 56 and an inward increased diameter cylindrical shank portion 5|. An integral annular embossment 52 is provided between the shank portion 51 and the outward face of the attachment pad 42. An integral lower attachment boss 54 is formed inwardly from the inward face of the attachment pad 42 and is provided with a pair of reinforcement webs 55 extending between the upper surface of the lower boss 54 and the inward surface of the attachment pad 42. A tapered aperture or hole 56 is provided through the boss 54 in a direction generally parallel to the attachment pad 42 and'is adapted for fixedly receiving a mating tapered portion (not shown) formed on the lower ball joint stud 26 with the stud portion fixedly retained therein by means of a nut 51.

For fixedly attaching the support bridge 28 to the spindle structure 29, bolts 58 extend through the bolt apertures 31 and 44 and are fixedly retained therein by means of nuts 55.

For providing means for attaching a braking mechanism (not shown) for the wheel structure (not shown) a brake backing plate 66 is secured against the outward face of the spindle structure attachment pad 42 by means of the bolts 58 and the nuts 59. Because of the U-shaped construction of the support bridge 28 ready access to the opposing face of the brake backing plate 60 is provided to allow for ready adjustment or removal of brake mechanism screws, bolts or the like (not shown) without the necessity of removing the brake backing plate from the steering knuckle assembly and without the use of a special wrench or the like.

From the above description it will be readily understood that the present invention provides an improved and simplified steering knuckle assembly for use in an independent steerable wheel suspension for a vehicle. The steering knuckle assembly is of two-piece construction with an improved U-shaped spindle support bridge including integral upper ball joint connection means and integral attachment sections for fixedly securing the bridge to an integral attachment pad formed on a wheel support spindle structure. The spindle structure portion of the steering knuckle includes the integral attachment pad, an integral perpendicularly outwardly extending spindle shank and an integral inwardly extending lower ball joint attachment boss. Both portions of the steering knuckle assembly are adapted for expeditious forming by forging operations. The support bridge is readily and easily forgeable from elongated bar stock or rod stock. The resultant bridge utilizes a minimum of material while being of exceptionally strong, durable construction. The U-shape of the support bridge allows for ready access to the opposing face of a brake backing plate attached to the steering knuckle assembly.

t will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:

7 11. In an independent steerable wheel suspension including pivotally mounted upper and lower 3. In an independent steerable wheel suspencontrol arms having ball joints attached at the sion including pivotally mounted upper and lower outer ends thereof with studs rotatably and tiltcontrol arms having ball joints attached at the ably retained in the ball joints, a steering knuckle outer ends thereof with studs rotatably and tiltassembly for supporting a, wheel and braking ably retained in the ball joints, a, steering knuckle mechanism including a brake backing plate, said a y Comprising a Spindle pp bridge of steering knuckle assembly comprising a spindle Inverted p v ne an integral pp S support bridge of inverted u..sha pe havingagem formed in the central portion thereof and an orally horizontal central portion provided with atvachlflgnt 15665101} at the e 1 11 f an integral cyhndrical upper boss and two inteeach or the legs, said boss hav ng a tapered hole ral generally vertical legs provided with attach- 8' fi f f y e e the stud of ment sections at the free end portions thereof -f l m ll J wi h he xl ner lly outwardly ofis t with respect to the central ill the plane of the legs, a wheel support spindle tion, eachof said attachment sections including e j f l -Q e a attachment r i en a plurality of integral bosses with bolt receiving f spmtfle @Xtendmg Perpendlcularapertures therethrough generally perpendicular f iia i i j f an Integral lower to the plane of the legs, a wheel support spindle gf fi i i f f 0131161 face, and means structure including an attachment pad with an j l securing said bridge attachment s t n integral spindle Shank extending perpendicularly to said splndle attachment pad against said other from one face thereof and an integral lower boss f Sam lower bobs taPered hole there formed on the other face said pad having a tnrough for ed recell'mg the Stud of Said plurality of bolt receiving apertures therethrough igwgf z i i f gf i f g Wlth the arranged in the same pattern as the bolt receiv- 5 inde g i m ing apertures in said support bridge, and pin v e S e Wnee suspenmeans in the bolt apertures of said bridge and Slon mcludmg plvimauymoptlted upper and lower said spindle Structure for fixedly attaching the control arms having ball oints attached at the attachment sections against said pad other Outer f i thergof Steering knuckle assembly face said upper and lower bosses having axially Comprising spmdle support bridge of inverted ali ned ta ered holes therethrough for fixedly reo eiving the studs of said ball joints to pivotally m h Central pmtlon ean attachment attach the steering knuckle assembly to said upe e 4 1- per and lower control arms, the space between 1 Whe 1 Support Sp mile stluctule mcludmg a for ready access to the face of said brake backing d 1 l b y q 1 plate opposing said support 1m age. an an in egla ower oss roimed from the other 2. In an independent steerable wheel suspension including pivotally mounted upper and lower control arms having ball joints attached at the 2 1 3 2 .g i a plrvotalty outer ends thereof with studs rotatably and tiltf a 95565 to Sam ably retained in the ball joints, asteering knuckle 40 -6 52; gg ix $39 8) arms hrough the ban assembly comprising a spindle support bridge of a tion of each of the legs said upper boss having comprising a spindle supportbridge of inverted a tapered hole therethrough for fixedly receiving Ti 2 p g g g f g i the stud of said upper arm ball joint with the c u mg an m 5pm 8 s an ex en 9 axis generally parallel to the plane of the legs Wardly therefrom, means for fixedly securing the plane of the legs, a wheel support spindle struczfig fi i s g f gg g g g g i ifig 1 5: tum including an attachmeltt pad with i central portion of said bridge and the inward fgral Spmdle shank extendmg perpendlcularly portion of said spindle structure to said upper one face thereofand an tntegr a1 l boss and lower control arms, respectively, through the ormed from the othel face, said pad having four ball joints connecfed thereto bolt receiving apertures therethrough arranged tures in said support bridge, and pin means in the bolt receiving apertures of said bridge and References Cited in the file of this patent said lower boss having a tapered hole there- UNITED STATES PATENTS through for fixedly receiving the stud of said Number Name Date lower arm ball joint in axial alignment with the 2,155,521 v r l Apr- 2 1 tapered hole through said upper boss. 2, Pawsat et 1950 

